Body Structures and Closures Vehicle Systems Engineer
About The Position
As the Body Structures and Closures Vehicle Systems Engineer (VSE), you are the chief integrator for Body Structures and Closures Systems – spanning Body in White, Body Sealing Solutions, Closures sheet metal, Chassis Structure, Door Seals, and frunk black plastics. You own design intent and technical execution, ensuring every subsystem decision rolls up into compelling vehicle-level performance, quality, timing, and cost. This is a highly visible, high-impact role where you connect the dots between engineering rigor, customer experience, and business outcomes. You are the voice of the Body Structure and Closures SMT, partnering closely with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Studio, Compartment Integration, Program Teams, and Performance & Validation to deliver a robust, on-time, and cost-competitive product. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, disciplined program stewardship, and the ability to influence across a complex, matrixed organization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related Engineering discipline (Master’s preferred).
- 5+ years of experience as a Design Release Engineer within Body Structures and/or Closures (e.g., sheet metal stampings and assemblies, chassis structures, door seals, functional black plastics).
- Proven executive-level communication skills – clear, concise, and action-oriented.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and align cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong track record of structured problem solving, risk management, and decisive execution.
- Experience managing program scope, timelines, budgets, and VDP/GVDP milestones.
- Results-driven mindset with demonstrated impact on EwS or other enterprise imperatives.
- Familiarity with GM Vehicle Program processes, tools, and deliverables.
- Consistent demonstration of GM Behaviors, including integrity, collaboration, resilience, accountability, and continuous learning.
- This position requires the ability to legally operate a motor vehicle on a regular basis. A company vehicle will only be provided for this role by passing the Motor Vehicle Report review.
Nice To Haves
- Lead DRE experience in Body Structures and Closures Systems strongly preferred.
- Manufacturing experience or a demonstrated strong BIW manufacturing knowledge base preferred.
- IRT experience preferred.
- Deep technical knowledge of sheet metal components and vehicle-level integration.
Responsibilities
- Own Body Structure and Closures SMT coordination across systems, subsystems, and vehicle interfaces.
- Define and drive technical imperatives that align to program targets, milestones, and customer promises.
- Lead structured problem solving, root-cause analysis, and trade-off decisions that protect vehicle performance.
- Define must-be-true conditions, set contingencies, and make timely, data-driven decisions to protect program metrics.
- Identify and resolve issues at both component and vehicle levels.
- Balance customer experience, manufacturability, cost, and enterprise constraints through clear, grounded technical communication.
- Deliver concise, executive-ready updates (written, verbal, and visual).
- Prioritize and tailor information for leaders, DREs, EGMs, and functional partners to enable fast, confident decisions.
- Clearly scope and frame work so teams can execute efficiently and with alignment.
- Align stakeholders with competing objectives and remove enterprise-level roadblocks.
- Secure durable agreements with BOM leaders, TEDs, suppliers, and Program Teams that keep the program on track.
- Develop and manage 30/60/90-day and long-range plans that are realistic and transparent.
- Appropriately push back on scope, delegate effectively, and identify and mitigate risks early.
- Lead Body Structures and Closures SMT delivery to cost, quality, and timing targets along the VDP/GVDP glidepath.
- Synthesize detailed technical inputs into credible forecasts and clear aggregate status.
- Drive design deliverables, benchmarking, cost management, HVI, interface requirements, and financial/quality imperatives.
- Co-lead supplier selection, tooling kick-off, and PPAP readiness to ensure launch success.
- Anticipate risk and lead engineering changes and validation activities with discipline and speed.
- Support DREs and IRTs through development and vehicle launch, ensuring issues are resolved before they reach the customer.
- Champion Engineering with Simplicity (EwS) through simplification, standardization, and smart reuse.
- Develop and communicate a pipeline of Body Structures and Closures SMT improvement ideas that raise the bar across programs.
- Monitor emerging technologies and competitive products.
- Translate insights into pragmatic design and execution strategies that keep GM products competitive and differentiated.
Benefits
- GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
